Zag recruit Watson invited to

USA men’s U19 training camp

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Incoming Gonzaga men’s basketball freshman Anton Watson was named to the USA men’s under-19 World Cup training camp roster. USA Basketball announced the roster Thursday.

The 2019 USA Basketball men’s U19 World Cup team training camp is expected to feature 34 athletes from June 15-18 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., including 10 gold medalists, 17 athletes with prior experience from at least one USA Basketball training camp and seven athletes who will be new to USA Basketball.

Training camp will be used to determine the official, 12-member roster for the 2019 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Cup Team, which will be selected by the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee.

Finalists for the team are expected to be announced June 18, and the team will be named prior to its departure for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Greece on June 24. Athletes eligible for this team must be U.S. citizens born on or after Jan. 1, 2000.

Watson, a Coeur d’Alene native who guided Gonzaga Prep to a second consecutive Washington state 4A title, was named the all-classifications state player of the year by the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association in March. G-Prep went 102-6 in games with Watson over the past four seasons, including two state titles and two third-place finishes. He averaged 18.7 points over his four-year varsity career.

Seven athletes will be college sophomores in 2019-20, including Kessler Edwards (Pepperdine/Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State/Oshkosh, Wis.), Kira Lewis Jr. (Alabama/Meridianville, Ala.), Isaac Likekele (Oklahoma State/Mansfield, Texas), Jayden Scrubb (John A. Logan College/Louisville, Ky.), Trevion Williams (Purdue/Chicago, Ill.) and Bryce Wills (Stanford/White Plains, N.Y.).

From the graduating high school class of 2019 will be: Eric Dixon (Abington H.S./William Grove, Pa.), Dajuan Gordon (Curie H.S./Chicago), R.J. Hampton (Little Elm H.S./Little Elm, Texas), Justin Moore (DeMatha Catholic H.S./Accokeek, Md.), Casey Morsell (St. John’s College H.S./Washington, D.C.), Zeke Nnaji (Hopkins H.S./Hopkins, Minn.), Isaac Okoro (McEachern H.S./Powder Springs, Ga.), Onyeka Okongwu (Chino Hills H.S./Chino, Calif.), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (IMG Academy, FL/Overland Park, Kan.), Isaiah Stewart (La Lumiere School, IN/Rochester, N.Y.), Anton Watson (Gonzaga Prep/Spokane), Mark Watts Jr. (SPIRE Institute/Pontiac, Mich.), Romeo Weems (New Haven H.S./Chesterfield, Mich.) and Samuell Williamson (Rockwall H.S./Rockwall, Texas).

From the high school class of 2020 will be: Scottie Barnes (University School/West Palm Beach, Fla.), Nimari Burnett (Prolific Prep, Calif./Chicago), Joshua Christopher (Mayfair H.S./Lakewood, Calif.), Sharife Cooper (McEachern H.S./Powder Springs, Ga.), Cade Cunningham (Montverde Academy, Fla./Arlington, Texas), Hunter Dickinson (DeMatha Catholic H.S., Md./Alexandria, Va.), Jalen Green (Prolific Prep/Fresno, Calif.), Walker Kessler (Woodward Academy/Newnan, Ga.), Caleb Love (Christian Brothers College H.S./St. Louis, Mo.), Evan Mobley (Rancho Christian School/Temecula, Calif.), Ethan Morton (Butler H.S./Butler, Pa.), Jalen Suggs (Minnehaha Academy/Minneapolis, Minn.) and Ziaire Williams (Notre Dame H.S./Sherman Oaks, Calif.).

The USA will be led by head coach Bruce Weber (Kansas State), with assistant coaches Mike Hopkins (Washington) and LeVelle Moton (North Carolina Central).

WSU signs DJ Rodman, son

of former Bad Boy Dennis

PULLMAN — DJ Rodman (6-6, 190, small forward, San Juan Capistrano, Calif./JSerra Catholic HS) has signed a letter of intent join the Washington State men’s basketball program beginning with the 2019-20 season, Cougar coach Kyle Smith announced.

“DJ is a shotmaker who has a really good feel for the game,” Smith said. “He was a very productive player displaying the ability to score and rebound at a high clip in one of the best high school leagues in California, the Trinity League.”

Rodman, son of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, spent his junior and senior seasons at JSerra Catholic High School where he averaged 24.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game as a senior and 16.1 points and 6.1 rebounds as a junior. He transferred from Corona Del Mar High in Newport Beach, Calif., where he led the Sea Kings to a 22-8 overall record, averaging 20.2 points and 6.5 rebounds a game as a sophomore. Corona del Mar captured the Pacific Coast League title and advanced to the CIF-SS Division I-A quarterfinals.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

set for Jan. 3 in Boise

BOISE — There will be no bowl game in Boise in 2019.

That’s because the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, a bowl game in Boise in its 23rd year under various names, is set for after the new year, with kickoff slated for Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, at 12:30 p.m. PST. The game will be held at Boise State University’s Albertsons Stadium and televised on ESPN.

The nation’s northern-most bowl game traditionally features a Mountain West vs. Mid-American Conference (MAC) matchup. The Mountain West has been represented in five of the last six games, while the MAC has earned a spot in the game nine of the last 10 years.

This season the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will be played after the new year for only the second time and the first since Jan. 3, 2004, when Georgia Tech defeated Tulsa to cap the 2003 season. The later date is a return to the game’s roots. The first 13 editions of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl were played on or after Dec. 27. This will be the first time it takes place after Christmas since 2009.

In last year’s bowl game, BYU defeated Western Michigan 49-18.

Tickets for the 2019 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will go on sale to the general public in September through famousidahopotatobowl.com or the Albertsons Stadium ticket office. Reservations for premium ticket packages are currently available, which include prime ticket locations, hospitality benefits in tent village and corporate exposure.

Information: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl office at 208-424-1011.

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is one of 15 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN.

Boise State to unveil

latest version of blue turf

BOISE — Boise State Athletics will unveil the newest edition of The Blue on Wednesday, June 5. Members of the Bronco Athletic Association and season ticket holders are invited to take the field beginning at 5 p.m. MDT, and the window for the general public is slated to begin at 6

This is a free event, and fans are asked to enter through the Allen Noble Hall of Fame in the southwest corner of Albertsons Stadium.

Boise State football head coach Bryan Harsin, student-athletes from the football team, the spirit squad, Buster Bronco and the Broncos’ live mascot, Blue, will all be on hand for the unveiling.

The event is scheduled to conclude at 8 p.m., and parking is free in the West Stadium Lot.